Valve for flushing-tanks



J. S. SWEENY. VALVE 50R nusmws' TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21,1919. ggg gg y Patented June 23, 192

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J SI SWEENY' VALVE FOR FLUSHING TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED nun .21. 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. SWEENY, 0F GALVESTON, TEXAS.

VALVE FOR FLUSHING-TANKS.

Original application filed January 22, 1919, Serial No. 272,526. Divided and this application filed November 21, 1919. Serial No. 339,540.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN S. SWEENY, a citizen of the United States, residing at 3127 Avenue 0, Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves for Flushing-Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in valves for flushing tanks, wherein the tank may be quickly filled and the supply accurately and properly cut off when the predetermined level in the tank has been reached, this application being a division of my application for flushing tanks, filed J anuary 22, 1919, Ser. No. 272,526.

The improved valve structure comprises means, operated by the usual float, to force the valve proper to open position in the fall of the float as the water is emptied from the tank, the valve being held open substantially fully during the rise of the float under the incoming water, until, when the tank has reached a predetermined level, the valve is released for immediate closing by the pressure of the water behind it. Mechanical means for positively closing the valve as an adjunct to the water pressure also forms a part of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view of the improved valve OPfifiittlIlg means shown in position in a flush tan Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the valve.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the valve mechanism, the parts being separated.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of valve, the valve being open.

Fig. 5 is a similar view the valve being closed. 7

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the valve mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the parts being separated. 1

Figs. 7 and 8 are views in elevation of the trip and lever respectively, of the mechanism,

showing a slightly modified arrangement of such parts.

The improved valve mechanism is here shown as applied to a flush tank 31, having a flushing control means 32, a lever 33 for operating the same, and an outlet or flush pipe 34. l

35, indicates a water service pipe threaded at its free end to receive the end of a valve casing '36. The valve casing comprises a cylindrical body portion open at one end and bored to form a valve guide 37, which communicateswith an outlet port 38, and on the inner end is formed a valve seat 39. The numeral 40, indicates a hollow valve, provided on its inner end with a packing 41, and adjacent thereto it is formed with inlet openings 42, and intermediate its length it' is formed with an outlet opening 43, which is so disposed as to register with the outlet port 38. V

Disposed below the outlet port 38, and secured to the side of thetank, is a pipe 44 which receives the water when the valve is open, to prevent splashing.

Extending from the valve casing 38, is a bracket 45, from which projects a lateral lug 46. Pivoted at 48 to the bracket 45, is a plate 48, formed with an arcuate slot 49, the axis of which is the center of the pivot 48.

A lever 50 is pivoted on a pin 51, extending through the free end of the valve 40, and in the free end of the lever is an open slot 52. The slot 52, engages over a beaded stud 53, extending from the plate 48, the length of the slot being such that in one movement of the plate thebeaded stud 53, will engage the end wall of the slot and force the valve open,

as will presently appear. Also pivotally mounted on the pin 51, is a trip or looking member 54, which extends between a pair of limiting studs and 56, extending from the plate 48, and provided with an abutment or looking lug 57 which is disposed in the path of lateral lug 46. r

The trip is also provided with a depending extension 58, to coiiperate at the proper time with a stud 59, extending from the plate 48.

A float arm 60, is, adjustably mounted at the lower forward end of the plate 48, by a screw 61, and atits free end it is provided with a float 62. The valve mechanism described is so disposed as to be out of contact with the water in'the tank, and to prevent electric currents or other kindred agencies being set up within the tank or reaching the tank from the ground through the service pipe deteriorating the lining of the tankand the float, the arm 60, is partially formed of insulating material, indicated at 63. It is not essential that the insulation be located at the specific point shown in the drawing as it is evident it may be placed anywhere between the et Valve and th Water 111 t e tank. Thus the electric action which is usually so destructive to flush tanks, and

the associated parts, is prevented from at-. tacking the parts.

When the tank is flushed, and the water level falls, the float lowers, and the stud 53 engages the end wall of the slot 52, and forces the valve inwardly as shown in Fig. 2. This movement uncovers the ports 42,

and the water irom the service pipe flows {into the tank.

When in this position, the trip is correspondingly moved,ywhich places the abutment 57, in locking position behind the lat- I the water on the end of the valve 40,forces the abutment against the lateral lug 46, and thereby retains the valve in open position during the major portion of the movement of the float.

Just about the time the water in the tank reaches the upper level, the stud 56, acting on the trip 54, disengages the abutment from the lug 46, and the pressure of water on the valve acts to quickly close said valve and stops the flow ofwater. It follows from thisdescription, that the valve is held open for the free passage of water until the desired level isreached, and that the parts act so quickly to close the valve that the packing is forced'tight against the seat, and the V supply of water is immediately cut off. 40

, not be suflicient to actuate the valve as de- If percha-ncethe pressure of water should scribed, the lug 59, will contact with the extension 58, and pull the valve until the packing snugly-fits against the valve seat and thus cuts off the water. In, the slightly modified form of trip 54 g and lever ,50 illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the

lever5'0, instead of being pivotally connect- ..led to the trip at 51,that isthe connection of such trip with the valve, is pivotally connected to'such trip at 85,which point 85 is in advance of connection 51 and below a line joining such connection51 and the forward support 53 of lever 50. In this form also, the trip isprovided with a guide-arm 86,"

projecting forwardly of and below the abutment 57 of suchtrip. With the modified details, the guide-arm 86 passes beneath the .pin 46, to guide and limit the movement of the trip so that the abutment may rise 7 to a point to pass over the, pin 46 and no higher. V The pivotal support 85 of the lever,

being below the points 51 and 53, tends to force the abutment 57 down behind the lug 46 in the operation of the parts.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 7, the valve is the same as that previously described, but the tripping mechanism is somewhat different. indicates a plate, pivoted to the valve casing bracket by a pivot 71. Pivoted to" the free end of the valve is a bifurcated lever 72, and pivoted at 72 between the bifurcated portions of this lever is a second lever 7 3, the oppositeend of the latter being pivoted on the pin 71. The second lever 7 3, is provided with a notch 74, designed to engage a stud 75,-on the lever 72, when the two levers are in substantial alinement. A trip 76, is also pivoted to the free end of the valve, and is rovided on its free end with an open slot 7 7 which engages the pivot pin 71. The trip is provided with a dependent flat spring 78to be engaged by a stud 70 to pull the valve, as previously described. v

l/Vhen the valve is closed, as shown in Fig. 5, the levers 72 and 73, are tilted ontheir respective pivots. The toggle action being destroyed by a lug 79, on the plate 7 0, contacting with lever 72, and the action of the pressure of the water on the valve causing the levers to tilt and the valve to close. However, should the pressure of water not be sufiicient to close the valve, the stud 70 contacts withthe spring78a'nd pulls the valve into closed position.

When the float lowers, it reversely rocks the plate 70 and the stud 80, contacts with the underside of the levers 72 and 73, and in so doing the valve is opened. The stud 80, tilts the levers 72 and 7 3, until the stud 75, engages in the notch 74, at which time the levers are in alinement, and the toggle action serves to hold the valve open against the head of water. j

i hat I claim is:

1. A valve for flush tanks comprising a casing formed with a valve guide and an outlet, a hollow valve operating in the-valve guide and provided withlateral inlet openings and an outlet opening, a packing at the end of the valve adjacent the inlet openings, a pivotally mounted plate, a float carried thereby, means between the plate and the valve to positively open the latterwhen the float is lowered, a trip pivoted to'the valve and provided with an abutment fixed means against which the abutment-is adaptedto rest to hold the valve open, and means car ried by the plate foractuating the trip and releasing the abutment when the float is elevated to permit the pressure of the water behind the valve to close said valve. I j

2. A valve for a flush tank comprising a casing, a hollow slide valve inthe casing, a plate pivoted to the casing, a float on the plate, the plate-having a slot, a stud extending from the casing and through the slot, a

lever pivoted to the valve and provided at its free end with a slot, a stud on the plate to engage the wall of the slot in the lever to open the valve, a trip pivoted to the valve and provided with an abutment which 00- operates with the first-mentioned stud to hold the valve open, and means on the plate for tilting the trip to release the abutment from the first-mentioned stud to permit the pressure of water to close the valve.

3. A valve for a flush tank comprislng a casing, a hollow slide valve in the casing, a plate pivoted to the casing, a float on the plate, the plate having a slot, a stud extending from the casing and through the slot, a lever pivoted to the valve and provided at its free end with a slot, a stud on the plate to engage the wall of the slot in the lever to open the valve, a trip pivoted to the valve and provided with an abutment WlllCll cooperates with the first-mentloned stud to hold the valve open, means on the plate to tilt the trip and release the abutment from the first named stud to permit the pressure of the water to close the valve, and additional means for insuring the closing of the valve if the first mentioned means fails.

4:. In a flush tank the combination of a flush pipe, means for flushing the water in the tank through the flush pipe, a water inlet pipe, a valve on the inlet pipe, said valve being out of contact with the water in the tank, a float for controlling the valve, and means for insulating the float from the valve to prevent electric currents being shunted from the earth to the water pipe passing through the float to the tank.

5. A valve for a flushing tank, including a valve opened against the pressure of the water, a member operated by the descent of the float in the tank to force said valve open, a locking element connected to and movable with said valve to hold the member in valve opening position during a rising movement of the float, and means operated as the float reaches a predetermined elevation to release said locking element to permit the valve to close under the pressure of the water.

6. A flush-tank valve, including a valve member, means actuated by the float to operate said member in one direction, a locking member connected to the valve-member and movable therewith to lock said valve member against valve-closing movement following a full opening movement of such valve member, and means operated by the float when at a. predetermined position to release the locking member from looking position and a lug on the valve member operating means to engage said locking member and operate the valve member in valve-closing direction following the action of said second mentioned means.

7. A flush tank valve, including a valve, a member operated in both directions by the float, a trip movable with the valve and mounted for independent movement with relation thereto and comprising a locking lug, and means on the member to operate the trip to and from looking position to prevent and permit respectively movement of the valve in one direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN S. SWEENY. 

